Suspenders.



PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

B. H. COOK. SUSPENDERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,1905.

.l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR; m

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PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

B. H. 000K.

SUSPENDERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7,1905.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

QINHHHHUHEHH w INVENTOR;

WITNESSES; M `Yr49M.

UNITE STATES PATENT errori Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentedlnay 15,1906.

nnlication filed April 7, 1905. Serial No. 254,330.

To al?, whom it may concern:

Be it known that LBrnToN H. Coon, a citizen ofthe United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, coun ty of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSuspenders, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to Suspenders7 and aims to provide certainimprovements therein.

In the usual form of suspender as now constructed the necessaryelasticity is provided for by forming the webbing with rubber strands,the two straps of elastic webbing being united at their rcar'ends by areinforce of leather, which also serves as a means of attachment for theusual bifurcated tab for buttoning to the back'of the trousers, similartabs being adjustably connected to the front ends of the straps forsupporting the front portion of the trousers. structed in this mannerare open to several objections. The rubber contained in the straps orwebbing speedily loses its elasticity, the leather reinforce beingexposed to the perspiration of the body rapidly deteriorates, and theentire suspender has a very short period of usefulness. My inventionprovides a suspender which is open to none of these objections, whichcontains no rubber or leather, which is notliablc to breakage, whichpermits entire freedom of movement with-` out binding upon the wearer orplacing an undue'strain upon the suspender, and which is simple inconstruction and inexpensive to manufacture.

To these ends in the preferred .form of my invention I provide. asuspender the straps of which are formed of one continuous piece ofinelastic fabric, the middle of which is connected to the rear tab andthe ends of which are connected to the fron t tabs by springconnections, which are adapted to provide the necessary elasticity forthc suspender. Such connections are preferably formed of a plurality ofhelical springs of elliptical cross-section, which are designed to havea definite degree of expansion or contraction, being limited thereto byastop device which is preferably flexible and which is adapted to assumethe strain 'when the springs have reached .their prescribed limits ofstress.

My invention provides several other features of improvement, which willbe hereinafter more particularly described.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate several modifications of myinvention, Figure Suspenders cone.

1 is a view of one of the front ends of a suspender, showing the springconnection 1n its 'normal condition.v Fig. 2 isi a view of the rear end,illustrating the springs stretched to their limit. Fig. 3 is a viewillustrating the flexibility of my improved connection. Fig. 4 is a planof several parts of the suspender separated. Fig. 5 shows an edge viewand a cross-section of the preferred form of spring. Fig. 6 is a view ofa modiiied forni of the spring connection. Figs. 7 and 8 are viewsillustrating modified forms of spring. Fig. 9 is a view ol' a detail.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the suspender-straps, a inFig. 2 designating the left-hand strap and a the right-hand strap, oneof suc-h straps a being shown in Fig. 1. In't'he preferred form of myinventio'n the straps c c are' constructed of a single piece ofinelastic webbing or other suitable fabricifolded at its middle, asshown in. Fig. 9, the fold being passed through a loop b and turned backupon the body portion andA being attached to the latter by rivets orother suitable devices c. The formation 'of a fold at this point isrendered desirable by the fact that the ordinary commercial webbings arewoven with a right and a wrong side, and if the webbing were merelyypassed through the loop i) the two sides would not correspond. With adouble-faced webbing the latter construction may be adopted. In eithercase the use of leather at this point is rendered superiluous, and agreater degree `of strength and durability is secured with a gain insiniplici ty of construction.

According to my invention each of the tabs B B is connected to the loopb or other equivalent device by a yielding connection which I willdesignate as a whole by the letter C. In its preferred form thisconsists of two or more helical`springs d, which are preferablyflattened to give them anelliptical cross-section, one of such springsbeing shown in edge view in Fig.l 5. By so forming the springs Iamenabled to obtain great strength and durability without the formationof a bunch or hump which would press into the body of the wearer, and onthis account be so objectionable as to render their use im# practicable.The springs are preferably connected at their upper ends to the loop bby means of a plate e, 'fhich is bent "round the loop and is providedwith perforated lugs or eyes c on its lower side, through which the endsof the springs are passed. The plate c,

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previous to being bent around the loop b, is shown in Fig. 4. A similarconnection is made to the tab-liookf at front and the tabloop g at rear.l

I prefer to provide astop for limiting the stress upon the springs,whereby when the latter have been lextended or contracted to the desiredextentthe strain will be removed therefrom and taken up by the stop, sothat the springs will not be injured by any eX- cessive strain. Such astop may beeonstrueted in a number of different ways, but that which Iprefer is shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and consists of a flexible member,such as a chain h, which is connected to suitable eyes e2, formed in theplates e and normally hangs loosely, as shown in Fig. 1. VVnen thesprings have been stretched, however, to the ext-ent shown in Fig. 2,for instance, the chain It becomes taut, and entirely relieves thesprings from any further stress. It is preferable that the chain h orother flexible stop should be arranged between the springs, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2; but it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 6, wherein thechain is outside of the series of springs, in this construction twochains being preferably used. Any other suitable means for connectingthe springs and chain with the webbing may be employed; but such meansshould preferably permit a free movementof the springs and chain aroundtheir points of connection, as shown in Fig. 3. By this construction Iprovide a s ring connection which permits any reasona le movement ofthewearer witliout placing any undue strain' upon any part of thesuspender. Fig. 3 illustrates the capability of the connection for widemovements without in any Wav twisting or disturbing the parts, so thatthe suspender imposes no restraint upon the movements of the wearer andexerts no undue pressure upon his body. The connection permits suchmovements equally in any direction whether the springs be stretched ornot.

In the suspender shown a very strong and durable construction ofbifurcated tab is provided, which I will describe with reference to Fig.4. The t-ab is constructed of a ilexible band of braid or other fabrici, which is formed ina single continuous )ieee loo )ed at 'j, Fig. 1,and providedwith clasps or c amps to limit the size of the buttonholesthus formed. The twoends of the braid are joined together by a suitableclamp l, Fig. 4, which is provided with projections m m (shown in dottedlines in this figure) and with serrated edges n 71which are bent overupon the ends of the braid, forcing the serrations and projections intothe fabric and clam ing the ends tightly together, as shownin ig. 1..The middle part o of the double tab thus Aformed is then placed within aserrated clam ingplate...p Fig. 4, the ortions gl oi' whici 'are thenbent over upon t e braid, securelv elamning thelatterin place. As thusconstructed a much stronger union between the elampingplate and braid isformed than would be the case were the two ends of the braid clampedWithin the plate or if the two tabs were madeA separately and their endsclamped by the late,as heretofore. The clamping-plate is ibrmed with aprojecting ortion r, which is bent around the ring orploop g or g',depending upon whether the tab is to be used at the rear or in front ofthe suspender. A snap-hook s is usually provided at each of the frontends, which engages the ring or loop g.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified construction of spring adaptedfor use with my invention. In this form the spring is placed undercompression by any strain Aupon the suspender-straps, two rods t t',bearing against opposite ends of the spring, being provided for thispurpose. Eaehof tlie rods, as shown, extends through the spring and isprovided at one end with an arm t2 oi t3, engaging the ends of thcspring and through which the other rod slides. Each rod is formed with ahook at its opposite end, by which it may be attached to the eye e.vAnother form of spring which may be used for this purpose isillustrated in Fig. S. As shown, this comprises two bow-springs d2 d3,which are adapted to be compressed by rods u u. Each of the rods isprovided with a head u?, bearing against one spring, and is adapted toslide through a hole in they opposite spring. The rods in this case arealso provided with suitable lioolis for engaging the eyes e.

Any suitable. number of springs may be employed in any of theconstructions shown, depending upon-the degree of elasticity required.lii Figs. 1 to 3, for instance, I have shown two springs, and in Fig. 6three; but a fewer or greater number may be employed, if desired.

'llie suspender provided by my invention has man v advantages over thosenow in use. I. am enabled to dispose entirely with rubber in vany form,and no scams or stitching are re,- quired. I also avoid thc use ofleather or IOC any other material which is al'lected by the perspirationof the body, all of the metal parts being preferably of nickel, brass,or other metal which is rustproof and non-corrodible. The various partsare made in the strongest possible manner for a given weight of materialand are of simple and inexpensive construction. Preferably all three ofthe spring connections are of the same construction, so that they may beused interchangeably, thus avoiding unnecessary multiplication of parts.

Although I'have described in detail the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not Wish to be limited thereto, as many changes may bemade ltherein without de parting from theiinvention, l I claim as my'invention the following de- A ined novel features substantially ashereinbefore specified: l

1. In a suspender, the combinationwith a suspender strap and tab, ofayielding connection interposedbetween said arts, said connectioncomprising a spring aving its ends pivotally connected to said parts soas to swing in all directions without distorting itself or said strapand tab.

2. In a suspender,` the combination with a suspender strap and tab, ofayielding connection interposed between said parts, said connectioncomprising a flattened helical spring having its ends pivotallyconnected to said parts so as to swing in all directions withoutdistorting itself or saidstrap and tab.

3. In a suspender, the combination with a suspender strap and tab,of ayielding connection interposed between said parts, said connectioncomprising a plurality of helical springs having their ends pivoted tosaid parts, so as to swing in all directions without distortion.

4. In a suspender, the combination with a suspender strap and tab, ofayieldingconnection interposed between said parts, said connectioncdmprising a plurality of iattened helical springs arranged with theirflat sides in the plane of said strap, .andhaving their ends pivoted tosaid parts so as to swing in all directions without distortion.

5. In a suspender, the combination with a suspender strap and tab, ofayielding connection interposed between said parts, said connectioncomprising a spring having its ends pivotally connected to said parts so'as to Swingin all directions without distorting itself or said strapand tab, and a iiexible stop for limiting the stress upon said spring.

6, In a suspender, the combination with a suspender strap and tab, ofayielding connection interposed between said parts, said connectioncomprising a plurality of flattened helical s rings arranged with theirflat sides in the pane of said strap, and having their ends pivoted tosaid parts, so as to swing in all directions without distortion, and aflexible stop for limiting the stress upon said springs. l

7. In a suspender, a strap, a tab, plates at-l tached to said strap-andtab respectively, perforated lugs formed on said plates, a plu- 'i alityof flattened helical springs having their opposite ends pivoted in saidlugs, and afleid-A ble stop adapted to limit the stress upon saidsprings, said stop being connected at its opposite ends to said plates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto si ned my name in the presence of twosubscri ing BURTON H. COOK.

' witnesses.

Witnesses:

THEODORE T. SNELL, EUGENE V. MYERS.

